Receptacle-handling means for unit-measuring machines



` n 1,643 367- Sept'. 27,1927. C N' BERGMANN ETAL I.

RECEPTACLE HANDLING MEANS Fon UNIT MEASURING MAcHlNEs origingliled July-1, 1925 4 Sheng-Sheet 1 sept. 27,1927. u

A Y 1,643,367 C. N. BERGMANN ET Al.

RECEPTACLE HANDLING MEANS FOR UNIT MEASURING MACHINES Original FiledJuly l, 1925y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l lwN-l-RS @www J.

PM y.

Sept. 27, l1927. 1,643,367

I' c. N. BERGMANN li-:T AL

RECEPTACLE HANDLING MEANS FOR-UNIT MEASUING MACHINES Original Filed Julyl, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 INVENTORS 1,643,367' Sept' 27" 1927 c. N.BERGMANN ET A1.

RECEPTACLE HANDLING MEANS FOR UNIT MEASURING MACHINES original. FiledJuly 1. 1925 4 vsli@ets-smet 4 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,643,367 PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN, OE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA; ELMER Z. TAYLOR, OE

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY; `AND CYRUS TAYLOR, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AS-SIGNORS TO BERGMANN PACKAGING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENN-SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RECEPTACLE-HANDLING MEANS FOR UNIT-MEASURING yMACHINES.

Original application filed July 1, 1925, Serial No. 40,796.

Our invention is an improvementl in machines for measuring units ofmobile material, as ice cream, for separating such measured units from amass, depositing themv separately into containers, capping thecontainers, and ejecting the lilled containers. The invention alsoembodies an improved mechanism for placing the containers in a carrierwhereby they are brought separately into position for lilling, cappingand ejection.

The present invention is generally similar in its main elements to thatshown in a prior rapplication liled by C. N. Bergmann et al.

on April 4, 1925, Serial No. 20,696, but differs therefrom mainly in thesubstitution of an intermittently rotatable carrying turret for thereceptacles, in place of the longitudinally movable carrying traysthereoit, as well as in other respects hereinafter described.

This applicationis a division of our prior application tiled July l,1925, Serial No..

40,796 for unit `measuring machines, and refers particularly to themeans tor moving the receptacle or cup in, through, and from themachine.

In the present construction we provide a rotatable turret wheel havingan annular series of cup receiving cavities by which each cavity isbrought successively in registering position underneath the cupdepositor, the filling mechanism and the capper, and then over theejector. v v

The present inventionrefers particularly to the lreceptacle handlingmeans, including the turret wheel carrier, its manner ol' constructionand operation, the ejector,bag iller, the means for actuating theseveral operative mechanisms in sequence with suitable rest periods, andvarious features of detail construction, as shall be hereinafter morefully described.

In the drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a view of the machine in front elevation; f

Figure 2 is a partial central vertical section Von the line II-II oit'Fig. l;

Fi -ure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line Hl of Fig. 2, withthe turret renamed and partly, broken away Divided and this applicationfiled May 27,

Serial No. 111,994.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the turret;

Figurev` 5 is a detail view showing the ejector plunger and itsactuating mechamsm,

Figure 6y is a sectional detail view showing the cup ejecting andsupporting mecha'- nism with. the cup in the turret socket;

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the cup elevated bythe plunger.

Referring to the drawings, the operative portions of the machine aremounted upon and within a hollow boX shaped base 2 of cast metalsupported upon the floor or foundation by a suitable flat pedestal, asin Fig. l;

it the liront middle portion of the base is a vertically arrangedbearing 3 in which is rotatably mounted the central depending stem 4 ofthe turret 5. Bearing 3 is -cast integral with a laterally extendingtransverse bottom wall 6, forming a concave dish Yor basin, surroundingthe turret .beyond the lower base and providinga rearwardly inclinedcollecting and drainage cavity for excess cream, washing, etc. y

As shown in Fig. 3 the outer edges 7 are rounded, and surround theturret, a drain connection being made at the lowerlevel for cleaningpurposes. Turret 5 is generally of the form oit a flat wheel or diskhaving an annular series of tapered socketsS open` at the bottom andprovided with lateral clearance openings 9 for the discharging plungerl0. Sockets 8 are of a size to vreceive, and support on their flangedbottoms the cups or receptacles L as they are deposited therein iortilling.- Y

It will -be understood that sockets 8 aie in multiples ot' four, astwelve,rso as to always loca-te a socket at four equidistantl pointsaround the center in position for cup depositing, filling, capping, anddischarge at each intermittent rest period of the turret. f

The several mechanisms for such purpose receive their operative movementfrom a main transverse shaft 11 mounted in bearings 12-12 of the maintrame 2. Shaft 11 is driven through gearing 13-14-15-16 orsi-hersuitable gearing, from amotoi? 17A Said motor is mounted on an it erior'.'iupL parting' shelf or base Y18 loli and is provided with thenecessary current supply, controls, `rete. i

. Turret '55 is intermittently rotated, say one twelfth ot' a revolutionwith an interivening rest period, 'by a 'ratchet wheel Y19 and :pa-Wl`29 'of lever iarm 2'1 `by Cain 22 :extendin'g rtremor 4movable withgear 13. Lever 21 is pivoted at 23 and its terminal roller 24 is held.against the annular .tace of cam .2.2 by a spring 25.V 'Pawl 20 ispivoted at 26 ito the other .end fot llever 2l and lits tree end has aterminal pin or roller 2T adapted toengage the successive teeth sockets28 ot the ratchet Awheel 19 tor each, operation, under con-trol ofspring L29 vsecured to the other end et the pawl and to the leven-asshown.

The under side of ratchet wheel 19 is provided with Va series ot'holding sockets 30 adapted `to co-act vwith roller "31 of -a springretracted stud 32 mounted in a supporting housing '33 of the dischargeplunger housing 34. In its intermittent rotation, one loomvpleterevolution oit `the turret will `bring each of the annular cavities 8into rest positions A, ByC -andl iD, respectively. In' such positions,`a cup is placed in the cavity at A, the vcup is il'led at B, the coveror cap is placed in the cup at C, and the filled cup is dischargedupwardly at il).

" 'charge opening in the casing. 1A `reciprocable placing within lthe,Vupper edge bleach cup a` AThe `cups a provided with a rib b are nestedin rarverltical column above position Ain a slotted magazin-e tube 35rigidly snppotred from ithe rear gear housing extension. Each cuptisitapered t lit snugly within the tapered cav-ity'8 of turret 5without binding. Means `are provided `below tube for lowering theenthnost cup` into the cavity and arresting ,and detaching =it while theremaining cups are lifted upwardly and there held until ythe turret vhas`moved one space, when such operation is repeatedfas fully described :inthe parent application Serial No. 40;796.

Vhen the cup is moved `around to position B `vit `there `illed with icecream, or other commodity, lby .means similar :to `that shown in theparent application noted; Depending below a hopper bottom 59 of hopper Eis a 'shortcyli-ndrical casing 60, supported ifron'i the Aupper frame ofthe machine.

Within casing is a rotatableydrum or barrel having a middle transversepassageway adapted to register with 'the bottoni opening ofthe hopperand anopposite dis- 'vplunger acts to withdrawn and eject aineasuredAunit of ice cream into the 'cupat each half revolution of the barrelyat location B.

'The 'filled'eup's are capped 'at position C by thin paperdisk 83 having'a projecting withdrawal tang. 'Said disks are mounted in a verticallyarranged "bank in a magazine tube 84, 'slotted along fits v'outer side,and tixedly bolte'dfto theplunger rframe, provided with"` the capplacingplungen When the lilled and cappedcup arrives at ,position iD itis rejected upwardly `@into a receiving tube 4140 by plunger 10.

Said plunger has a series of laterally dirverging wings 169 adapted vtopass through =end of ylever 142 pivoted to a cross shaft 143.

A cani lever 144 is also pivoted on shaft 143 and extendsupwardly by laterminal lhaving a roller 145 engaging the cam groove 1461er cani 147 on-shai't 11. As the cam rotates, the groove so designed as to throwthevplunger-1() upwardly at the proper tiene to disdharpge `the Vfilled and`capped cup iupwardly towards the tube 140.

-rtljinari`ly, levers 142`and144 will operate together as lone piece,but are made separate to allow for easement ofithelii'ting pressure onthe cup in case of jamming.

For "such .purpose -lever "(142 bears up lagainst lever 144 byanextended lug 168 due yto the holding action of spring 145 connectingthe levers across the angle joint, as in Fig'. 2, Normally `tliie'icam1will impart lil-ting and *lowering movement l"to the plunger, '7

ibut it the plunger is arrested for any reason,

-as by interference with the turret, .the hinge joint willopen, allowingthefcain movement of section 144 to continue without actuating "theplunger, `un-til the obstruction or interl'ference is remove-d oradjusted.` c p'` The'shape of the plunger 10 tends to'avoid V'annninefor interference. The lateralwinvs 1 b D `169 are provided withfterminalabutments and inwardly sloping upper shouldered faces 171 which act -tocenti-alize thefcup and plunger, Vand to fsupp'ort the `cup ttorliiiting by its lower 'annular edge against Jtheshoul` 4dered`abutlnents 170,1thus `relieving pressure against the :flat thinbottom-of the cup.

Between the bottom of `tube 149 `:and the ,y

surface of the turret 5 arelinterposed a pair ott automatic inwardlygravitating cup ar resting jaws 246-246; 'Dheseas shown are pivotedat"247 and -fall inwardly by gravity x against stop abutments 148, andhave inner inclined 1faces'terrninating in narrow con- 'cav'edlips l Y iAs the cup is lifted by the plunger, it passes between and above suchLlips which then fall inwardly by gravity `and engage Y `the irim b as"in Figi?. Atfthe Sametime.

that each succeeding cup is raisedfit kpushes the already glifted`and'*supported cu-ps upwardly a distance equalling the depth 'off one-c-up. The entireseries arie thus supported by the jaws 146,each 1 cupsupporting the next 'of -the Iadjacent cup resting thereon within theWider upper rimb.

uppermost one byjitscover, the betteln edge Tube 140 is slotted alongopposite sides as at 152 for inserting the fingers in removing anyselected number of cups, and is prefer-l ably inclined at the top as at149. yThe base of the tube is flared as at 249 foreasy entrance, and issecured in an upperextension 150 of housing 34 as in Fig. 2. Hinge pins247- are also secured in said support together with the cross bars 151having the confining abutments 148.

In assembling the filled cups for refrigeration, storage, shipment,etc., a paper bag e is placed over the tube 140 in inverted position,the tapered top 149 facilitating such placement. As many cups as aredesired, say four or` eight, are gathered upwardly into the bag bylifting the cups, with the surrounding bag, by inserting the fingersthrough the opposite open and closed end slots 152.

Thus the cups and the enclosing bag are removed together as theyaccumulate by .finally lifting throughl the open slot at one side, thebags being closed at thelower open f' end in any suitable way.`

It will be understood that each of the socketsS of the turret isoccupied successively by a cup "at position A, and that as each arrivesat the subsequent positions B, C, and D, the operations above describedare performed. l

Therefore as each socket arrives at the final discharging position, afilled cup is ejected, the. empty socket then. passing around toposition A where a fresh empty cup isdeposited.

The operation is continuous, rapid, and substantially automatic7 merelyrequiringrenewal of the cup and cap supply in their respective magazinetubes, removal of the filled cups. intok theirpaper bags, and of coursemaintaining a sufficient amount-of ice cream at all times in the hopper.

The several movements are all effected through the various cams andtheir transmitting levers in the manner described andl illustrated.

The timing of the operations is easily controlled by the design andsetting of the cams and the various adjusting, limiting and controllingdevices and mechanisms. Themachine as a whole is verycompact and ofcomparatively small size, considering its .capacityV and speed ofoperation.

It may be changed or varied by the skilled mechanic in various detailsor features, or

otherwise modified within the scope of the general principle ofoperation, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scopeof the following claims.

`What we claim is 1. In combination with a rotatable turret having anannulus series of open bottom pockets, a lower plunger adapted to moveupwardly therethrough, an actuating cam,

and apivotally connected compound lever,

having one arm engaging the cam'and the other-end: flexibly connect-edwith the plunger and provided with an. arresting portionadapted toengage the other arm.

2. In combination with a rotatable turret having an annular series ofopen bottom pockets, a lower plunger adapted to move upwardlytherethrough, an actuating cam, and apivotally connected compound levercomposed'of two arms, one being connected with the plunger and the otherengaging the cam, said arms being held in abutting normalpositionkcapable of allowing for-temporary stoppageA of the plunger armwithout stoppage of the cam arm, and a spring connectingsaid armsnormally holding'- them in operative position and capable -of permittingof such temporary stoppage of the plunger arm during continued movementof the cam arm. f Y,

3. In combination withI a rotatable turret having an annular series of-open bottom pockets, an upper open ended receiving tube, y

.al lower plunger in register therewith having lateral l'portionsforedgeengagement with the bottom of a cup adapted to discharge it upwardlythrough a pocket and into the tube, and arresting mechanism'for the cupabove the'turretadapted to co-operate with the plunger and-tosupport acup upon retraction of the plunger.

clearance slots, and pivoted vgravitatingv` arresting jaws for a liftedcup between the turret and the lower r.end of the 'receiving tube. c l yG. In combination with. a lower -cupsupporting turretv having openAbottom vsockets and a discharging plunger :therefor operable upwardlytherethrough` anupper openv ended receiving .tube havingy a taperedupper end for placement of a holding bag and pivo-ted gravitatingarresting jaws for a lifted cup between the turret and the lower end ofthe receiving tube.

7. A cup carrier having a series of tapered cup pockets with inwardlyextending supporting anges and radially arranged clearance openings.

8. A cup carrier having a series of tapered del @drets with.nwardlyfextendng SQP- porting langes 'and radially 1arr'angedclear-'anjee openings, and a disehargng plunger therefor having radiallydisposed 'abutments for edge 'engagement with 'a cup bottom.

9. A Clip 'Carrier ha'vinga series oitapered l cup 1pockets withinwardly extending supporting tlanges and 'radially arranged clearanceopenings, and a discharging plunger havrng radially ,dis osed abutmentsadapted to ride 'upwardly through each pocket with `theabutrnentsextending into said clearance Y `ipenings and adapted toengage thelower 'rimof a cup.4 l

" 110. A discharge plunger adapted to be inserted upwardly through 1theopen bottom of la cup carryingf ocket provided with latqejraljlyextending ,s i'ouldered abutments Afor l engagement with the bottomedges koi a 'filled fcup.

11. A di'sharge plunger adapted tovbe inserted upwardly through ,theopen bottom of` f `a pup carrying pocket provided withlaterallyjextendingshouldered abutments for engagement with the bottomledges of a `filled 'cup and 'having inwardly sloping portions upwardlybeyond said abutments.

l2. In a' machine of the class described, a` V cupcarrier Lhavingaseriesoi cup receiving ,pocketseach Aprovided with an open center Ebottom ,andan annular inwardly extending bottoni supporting flange tral Clearanceopening.

Y BNL-na machine of the class described, a [cup lcarrier having a seriesof cup receiving pokets each provided with an annular `"tapering wallhaving altermina'l inwardly `extending'bottom iiange surrounding a cen-"114. In a vmaehine of *the 'Glass described, a

cup carrier having .a series of cup receiving l pockets each providedwith an annular "tapering wa'fll having a terminal inwardly l extendingbottom flange surrounding a central clearance 4opening and provided withradial .clearance 4openings for a discharging elnge'r. j j l y ijfil'ljing machine, the combination with a lmain frame, a hQrizOntalturret Wheel lprovewthan annular Series ai 'Loup reneivingrekefs at 'itsOuter neriphlalror- "tion andacentralbearing stem, a collecting`basin,i11.00rivera-ted with the main .fram-e 'ar- 'ranged below andaround the Cup irjeiving ofthe'turret and lprovided with a iniddleupwardly yextending bearing ,o'rjthe Yturret"stem Yforming the .innerwall of the `briisliil; and mea-11's tenured to "the lower end thestern` "for 'intermittently actuating 'the {n rret. l y

' 216. In a vtfilling machine, the eombination weeen? of yar main frame,a horizontal turret wheel provided ,with an anndlar 4series Vof cupreeeiving podkets at fits enter peripheral pore tion and fa gcentralbea-rin 'ing basin incorporated with U fsteni, La `jcoll'eet- A ithemain 'frame 4arranged 'below and around the `cup treceivingpokets of theturret and Yprovided with middle upwardly extending bearing vior l'thefturretstem #forming the innerN wall -of 'the basin, a `ratchet wheelonV'ihe elewer lend of the stern, and a cam-actuated lever harving v-aspring retracted pawl therefor.

-oppositely extending freely p ivoted arms connected by a spring andlholding said arms in shouldered engagement, one of `said arms being inengagement with an actuating cani and the other *being connected ftovthe Adischarging plunger.

18. In a filling machine, the 1`coinbinition or a main frame, ahorizontal 'turret wheel iprovided with an 4annular series of cupreceivingfpockets and a. lcent'ral bearing stem,

a "main shaft, a guidinglhousing for illled cups above the turret 1nregister with Aa fcup filled cups `below the `turret in register withthe guiding housing `adapted to push "a 'cup vupwardly from a v'pockettowards "the housg, means :actuated by the Amain ishaft ffor 'rotatingthe turret with an interveningrest periodVand means` actuated by "die"fmain shaft for operatincr the discharging plunger to ldischarge aii'illed cup from the turret during said rest period, said meanslconsisting of a. pair'of oppositely extending freely pivoted 'armsconnected by;` a spring and holding4 said `farms in 'shoildered,engagement, .one of :said Varrnsbeing 'in ,engagement-- 'with anac'tu'at'ingcam andthe other :having a pivotedlink pivot'ally`-conneeteil to the discharging plunger. l' l' Y AIn testimony ivhereoi`we have hereunto set our names.

S'llAIV BERGMANNL i z f'raYLon. TAYLOR.'

r`pocket position, a discharging "plunger for Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,643,367. Granted September 27, 1927, to CHRISTIAN N.BERGMANN ET AL.

It is hereby certed that error appears n the printed specification ofthe abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line63, claim l, for the Word annulus read cumuler; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting @omissioner of Patents.

